never learned. Apparently the natural river
boundary eliminated the need for a fight.
Seldom did an hour pass without some
form of territorial conflict between the edgy
males of the meadow. Usually a simple
chase sufficed to resolve their disputes.
Male Orphan Joins Family
On these summer days we had nearly 20
hours of light. But the guanacos kept a
reasonable schedule that began about nine
and permitted us to head for our tin house by
seven in the evening. While the truck was
still a mile away, Ona would see our dust;
Pupsy would pick up the cue, and soon both
animals would be dancing around the truck.
When we got out, Ona would nuzzle against
me and bleat softly. By then the girls would
have appeared, glad to break away from the
schoolbooks we had brought.
"We've got a little surprise for you," Mer
ry announced one day when we pulled in.
"Yahgan!" she called in a motherly tone.
Out from the camper came the girls, guid
ing a newborn male chulengo. "The sheep
riders found him all alone and brought him
in. Can we keep him?" Merry asked. She al
ready knew the answer. Perhaps because we
doted on him less, Yahgan proved to be
much more independent than Ona.
Caught in the middle of a
rite that will expel it from the
family group, ayearling
(left, at center) crouches
in submissionas an adult
male, right, andfemale square
off in the head-up, ears
back, arched-tailstance of
aggression.Trying to protect
heryoung, the female charges
the male, who counters by
spitting (below, left), another
form of aggression. The two
then slam chests (below,
right). With the female
routed, the male will charge
the youngster, ultimately
driving it off to make room
for his new generationof
offspring. Expelled male
yearlingsjoin a bachelor
herd.Females seek admission
to anotherfamily group and
begin breedingat about two
years of age. Gestationlasts
11 to 11/2 months. Within a
day of its birth an infant, or
chulengo, is already a swift
runner. Femalesmate again
almost immediately after
giving birth; thus two
successive generationsmay
end up nursing together until
the elder is expelled.